In 1998, a "Celebrate the Century" steering committee was formed to
develop a year-long series of programs, events, and special projects in 1999 to
celebrate the end of the 20th century. The steering committee was comprised of
community leaders from various local institutions and organizations and included
Betty Martin, Chris Schellenberg, and board member Dorothy Jerse
from the Vigo County Public Library.

The mission and goals developed for the entire project are as
follows:

Mission: Celebrate the past, enjoy the present and meet
the wave of change in our future

Goals:

Show the importance of history.

Add to local historical resources

Make residents aware of their successes and the advantages
their area offers

Open a dialogue: past into the future

Explore the potential for the future

The Historical Survey Project was developed as one major
component of "Celebrate the Century." Susan Dehler (Special Collections
Archivist, Vigo County Public Library) drafted three separate questionnaires or
surveys to be sent to local churches, businesses, and organizations. The
objective was to obtain historical information about community institutions that
could be deposited in the Community Archives at the Vigo County Public Library
as a valuable resource for future generations.

The steering committee finalized the format of the
questionnaires to be sent out. Institutions were encouraged to donate original
materials, photographs, and printed histories to complement the information
provided by the survey.

Approximately 800 surveys were sent to local businesses; the
mailing list was developed from the 1998 membership directory of the Terre Haute
Chamber of Commerce. Approximately 316 surveys were sent to local clubs and
organizations; the mailing list was developed from the Vigo County Public
Library's clubs and organizations database maintained in the Community Services
Department. Approximately, 208 surveys were sent to local churches; the mailing
list was donated by community member, Dick Pierard.

Additional surveys were distributed by some steering
committee members to a few random local organizations not on any of the mailing
lists. Some institutions (such as, Gibault School for Boys and Covered Bridge
Girl Scout Council) were on both the business and organization mailing lists and
received two surveys, but there is very little redundancy in the collection
beyond this.

A total of 233 surveys were returned to the Vigo County
Public Library (23 churches, 133 businesses, and 77 organizations). These
historical surveys along with some of the original material donated with them
have become a permanent collection in the library's Community Archives.
Throughout the year 1999, a Timeline of Vigo County History was displayed in the
main lobby of the Vigo County Public Library. Historical information for the
timeline was based on the information provided by the historical surveys,
additional material in the Community Archives, and data supplemented by local
historian Dorothy Jerse.

The Timeline has become a part of the Vigo County Public
Library's WEB page and the information and materials that were part of the
original Timeline display have been deposited at the Historical Museum of the
Wabash Valley.

Content and Scope of Collection

This collection contains the 233 returned historical surveys
and any additional historical material included with them by the responding
church, business, or organization. The survey includes the name, title, and date
of the person who filled out the form and the amount of information submitted by
each institution varies widely. Some forms contain scant information while
others are fairly complete and include printed institutional histories, original
programs or brochures, company logos and graphics.

The surveys are arranged by type (church, business,
organization) and within each category are presented in alphabetical order by
name of organization. Also included with the collection are the master mailing
lists, the inventory lists of surveys as they were received, and the working
file of Susan Dehler, Project Archivist.

Small
Document Case

Business Surveys

Folder 1

Inventory list of returned
Business surveys
(132 total plus 1 unidentified)